How We're Helping Customers Struggling with the Economic Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic
Mar 30, 2020
Beneficial State Bank, a certified B Corp and mission-driven bank, is letting customers know they’re here to help during this crisis--stepping up efforts to help struggling customers and instituting policies to encourage social/physical distancing
Oakland, CA, March, 27, 2020--During the COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting economic fallout, Beneficial State Bank is stepping up its efforts to help customers struggling financially and to ensure the safety of bank employees and their communities by encouraging social distancing and honoring shelter-in-place orders. Additionally, the bank will not be initiating new repossessions or litigation on past due auto loans to ensure stability for its customers and communities in these uncertain times.
“The financial and physical health of our employees, customers and communities are our top priorities,” said CEO Randell Leach. “We are offering a payment deferral program for customers having difficulty making a payment and waiving fees for many products and services. For customers who need further relief, we encourage you to contact your account manager. We are committed to working directly with each customer seeking assistance during this difficult time.”
Beneficial State is taking the following steps to help customers and do its part to slow the spread of the virus. This includes:
- Instituting loan payment deferment programs on business and consumer loans and encouraging customers to work with the bank if they are having difficulties making a payment.
- Waiving many transaction and processing fees for customers facing financial difficulties and increasing limits on mobile deposits to facilitate online transactions. Customers may also request increases on card limits or lines and are asked to contact the bank to see what they are eligible for.
- Hosting virtual financial wellness sessions for consumers and small businesses, beginning in April.
- Offering an online portal of helpful local resources, tools and financial products through a partnership with SpringFour
- The bank has temporarily reduced its hours at all of its branches from 10am to 4pm, and eliminated Saturday hours to accommodate our essential staff during the ‘Stay at Home’ measures across the region. This will allow our staff to take extra precautions to keep us all safer, such as additional cleaning and maintenance of common areas.
- Our customer care center hours remain Monday - Friday: 7am to 6pm and Saturday: 10am to 2pm for those who need assistance.
- Instituting work from home policies for non-frontline staff so employees can care for their families, reduce their exposure, and support the social imperative of slowing the transmission of the virus.
There are no changes to FDIC insurance coverage at Beneficial State Bank.
Beneficial State has also noticed an increase in fraud and scams in connection to COVID-19. To deliberately incite fear and provoke hasty or risky actions, scammers are setting up websites, contacting people by phone and email, and posting disinformation on social media platforms.
“Be cautious and contact us if you have any questions,” Leach said.
Customers can contact Beneficial State Bank through their website, call our customer care center at (888) 326-2265, or their account officer directly.
Additional information can be found at Beneficial State Bank’s Coronavirus Information Page.
Beneficial State Bank (Beneficial State) is a state-chartered, federally insured bank with branches in California, Oregon, and Washington. Beneficial State serves the triple bottom line of people, planet, and prosperity for all, which involves serving its communities, supporting positive environmental outcomes, and achieving long-term financial sustainability. A unique ownership structure supports these strategic priorities: the bank’s capital is majority-owned by the nonprofit Beneficial State Foundation. This means its economic rights are fully aligned with, and permanently governed in, the public interest.
Beneficial State Bank is a founding signatory of the UN’s Principles for Responsible Banking, a member of the Global Alliance for Banking on Values, a Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI), Fossil Free Certified, and one of the world’s top-rated Certified B Corporations, awarded B Corp "Best for the World" status every year since 2013.
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